Whilst suicide with firearms did
drop, the “overall” rate of suicide actually increased!

Clearly people simply switched
to alternative methods of suicide.

Also, it is absurd to think that
banning semi-automatic rifles would reduce suicide, as it is not possible to
continue to shoot yourself multiple times. It is even more absurd given that
semi-automatic pistols remain legal in Australia. http://www.gunsandcrime.org/auresult.html#accidents

That
the gun bans restricted “high power” firearms:

In fact Australia’s gun laws are
not based on the power of firearms at all. It remains legal to possess very
high power calibres (such as .338 Lapua, 308, 270, 30-06) which are highly
lethal at ranges in excess of 1km.

Whereas very low powered
semi-automatic .22 rabbit hunting rifles (which are widely available in places
like New Zealand and even the UK) are strictly controlled and effectively
prohibited.

One of the most policed features
of Australian gun laws are laws based purely on how a firearm looks, with no
regard at all to its actual function. Leading to the absurd bans on Air-Soft BB
guns and many paintball guns that can be purchased in toy stores even in places
like Japan which have very tough gun laws.

That
Australia’s gun laws work because we have a lower homicide rate than the US.

Australia’s homicide rate has
always been significantly lower than the US, even before there were gun laws in
Australia.

A final point worth noting is that Australia’s nearest cousin in the
world (New Zealand) has a much better public safety record, whilst having a gun
policy approach that doesn’t ban certain types of firearms. Law abiding
licenced shooters in New Zealand can even legally possess fully automatic
machine guns, sound moderators and a huge range of other firearms that are
banned completely in Australia. And yet New Zealand has a better public safety
record. http://www.cjcj.org/uploads/cjcj/documents/Mass_shootings.pdf

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Welcome to World Central, an independent page presenting straightforward news, views and attitudes. Looking for what's right as opposed to just looking right and presenting the facts, not the fantasy and certainly not the ideology. This page is not designed to offend, the intent is to find the facts and present them to the world.The opinions expressed here are the editor’s and do not represent any other persons, company, organisation etc. The opinions posted in the comments section are the opinion of the person posting them.